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Wednesday, June 27, 2012

A Very Happy Birthday

Last night I celebrated my birthday with two of my dearest loves, my husband and daughter. When I arrived home from work and opened the door, my two-year old ran to me and said, "Happy Birthday Momma. I love you." It was the best birthday gift I've ever received and to say I was overwhelmed with pure joy would be an understatment. Birthdays are a funny thing. In my twenties, my girlfriends and I LOVED birthdays. They were an excuse to get a fabulous new dress and invite all of our friends (and many more casual aquaintances) to whatever the of-the-moment L.A. bar was to drink and dance the night away. Whenever I drive the streets of L.A., Sunset to Beverly Blvd., Las Palmas to Wilshire, I'm reminded of the great celebrations we had as we inched closer to 30.

Since then, I've started to see birthdays differently. Now, they are a reminder of my failure to outsmart Father Time. A signal that like every other woman on this planet, I am getting older and things are starting to change. I have to work out twice as hard as I did ten years ago to see the same results, I need twice the sleep, I can only handle a third of the drinks my twenty-something self could take down on any given evening and I've definitely got twice the wrinkles. How did I get here?

Just as I was having a "poor me, I'm getting older" moment, I learned of Nora Ephron's passing. The When Harry Met Sally writer/Julie and Julia director Tuesday morning at the young age of 71. After reading several tributes and literary obits, including her hilarious observations on aging, I started to think about my birthday in a new way. Not as a stamp in my passport on the journey to old age, but as a wonderful gift. A gift of another year of precious life. I realized that each year I get to spend here on Earth with my loved ones is something to rejoice about, not dread. If I want to live to see another day, I'll have to accept the fact I WILL continue to get older, my wrinkles will get worse, and I'll continue to do battle with gravity during my workouts. It's supposed to be a happy birthday, right?! So today, I'm celebrating the fact I'm one year older and hoping I get the privilege to celebrate again in 364 days. Hope you are having a great week!

A very happy birthday to you!! So happy to hear you had a wonderful celebration with your favorite people. I was sad to hear about Nora Ephron's passing (though I've never seen When Harry Met Sally, isn't that insane?!) but I'm touched by how her death has made you want to celebrate life every chance. We really are lucky to get all the years we get! It's nice to have a reminder to live them to the fullest, I think Ms. Ephron would have been pleased to know that.

Jennifer, I just have to say that you look fabulous and not at all "old." Having said that, I completely understand where you're coming from in regards to aging. I think I mentioned to you that this is the first year that I have felt every bit of my age, physically and mentally. Like you, I find so much inspiration in the women who have gone before me, forged their own path, and celebrate the life they're given. All I want to do is age gracefully like all those inspiring women. Happy birthday, Jennifer! Hope we get to clink glasses to another year of life soon. xx(Off to read that aging link. ;)

Happy Birthday Jennifer. I was also sad to hear of Ms Nephron. She was a great woman!

I've always rejoiced in Birthdays and as I'm nearing my next one in August I try and not loose that sentiment of appreciation of life, my good fortunes and healthy mind and body. I've accepted my wrinkles and the gravity of 'everything' and hope I will stay young in heart, attitude and mind as I approach my 50's in a couple of years. Those play a bigger role in 'graceful' ageing.

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Welcome! I like flea markets, The New Yorker, champagne cocktails, and Paris. Kate Moss is my style icon, hydrangeas are my favorite flower, and I dream about Cindy Sherman photographs and John Currin paintings.